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Northern Gateway pipeline support slipping slightly, poll suggests

The view looking down the Douglas Channel from Kitimat. The Federal government announced last month their decision to let the Northern Gateway pipeline to be allowed to go ahead. The pipeline once built would bring oil from Alberta to the British Columbia coast to be loaded on tankers and shipped around the world.

Photograph by: JONATHAN HAYWARD
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Support for Enbridge’s $7.9-billion Northern Gateway pipeline has dropped to 38 per cent in B.C. but remains much higher in Alberta, according to a new Insights West poll.

The Vancouver-based pollster began tracking support for the mega-project in January 2013, when a survey found 35 per cent of British Columbians supported the project and 61 per cent were opposed. Support increased to 42 per cent in November 2013, but has dropped by four per cent in the latest online survey of 647 British Columbians from June 17 to 21. The Alberta poll surveyed 617 Albertans.

In B.C., 49 per cent of residents are opposed to the project, which received approval from the federal government on June 17.

In Alberta, the numbers are much different: 65 per cent of residents back the project (down from 75 per cent in January 2013), while only 19 per cent are opposed (up slightly from 18 per cent).

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B.C. versus Alberta

How the two provinces compare on some major issues:

Are you worried about the expected increase in oil tanker traffic?

B.C. 85%

Alberta: 73%

Are you worried about the risk of an oil spill?

B.C.: 83%

Alberta: 66%

Do you believe the pipeline will support economic growth?

B.C.: 79%

Alberta: 89%

Do you believe it will create new jobs?

B.C.: 80%

Alberta: 88%

Source: Insights West poll

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Insights West vice-president Mario Canseco said the poll shows that even after federal government approval, the needle did not move in favour of the project in B.C. And despite the acknowledgment in B.C. that there will be economic benefits, those are trumped by significant environmental concerns, Canseco said.

Canseco also noted that strong opposition in B.C. (29 per cent) surpasses strong support (14 per cent).

Canseco said a key issue that has emerged is that 68 per cent of British Columbians are concerned about the project’s effect on First Nations, according to the poll.

“If we saw people saying the aboriginal issue was at the bottom of the list of things we are rating, then you could argue it’s not something that is top of mind for B.C. residents, they may not care about it that much, but it’s way up there,” Canseco said.

The poll was conducted before a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision was released June 26 which broadened First Nations land rights and is expected to have an effect on projects such as Northern Gateway.

The poll also found the notion of holding a plebiscite where registered voters get to have a say on Northern Gateway is regarded as a good idea by 63 per cent of British Columbians.

If such a plebiscite was to take place, 48 per cent of British Columbians would vote no, according to the poll.

Results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points for B.C. and 4.1 percentage points for Alberta, 19 times out of 20.

The view looking down the Douglas Channel from Kitimat. The Federal government announced last month their decision to let the Northern Gateway pipeline to be allowed to go ahead. The pipeline once built would bring oil from Alberta to the British Columbia coast to be loaded on tankers and shipped around the world.

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